Rivière du Cran facts for kids

The Rivière du Cran (which means Cran River in English) is a river in Quebec, Canada. It flows into the Ashuapmushuan River. This river runs through the wild area of Lac-Ashuapmushuan. It also passes through the town of La Doré. The Cran River is part of the Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean region.

The area around the Cran River is mostly covered by forests. There are special forest roads that connect to Route 167 in the north. The main activity here is forestry, which means cutting down trees. People also visit for fun, especially because of the Ashuapmushuan Wildlife Reserve.

River's Journey

The Cran River starts at a lake called Lac des Jaseurs. This lake is shaped like a triangle and is surrounded by mountains. It sits high up, about 530 m (1,740 ft) above sea level.

Lac des Jaseurs is in a forest area. It is located:

• About 3.8 kilometres (2.4 mi) south of the Vermillon River.
• About 31 kilometres (19 mi) southwest of where the Cran River ends.
• About 24.8 kilometres (15.4 mi) southwest of the Ashuapmushuan River.

From Lac des Jaseurs, the Cran River flows for about 69.7 kilometres (43.3 mi). It drops about 342 m (1,122 ft) in height along its path. The river flows through different areas, including farms and small villages closer to its end.

Here's how the river flows:

• It first goes southeast, passing through Lac Becquerel and Lac Merlin.
• Then, it continues southeast in a deep valley, crossing Lac Buzet and Pony Lake.
• It turns southeast again, flowing through Lac Lafrance and Lac du Mâle.
• Next, it heads north in a straight line, picking up water from Antoine stream and other lakes like Salice and Lanouette.
• It then turns north, making a curve to the east around a mountain.
• The river flows east, looping south and then north, collecting water from Madame stream.
• It continues east, following the Canadian National railway for a while.
• Finally, it flows north in a deep valley until it reaches its mouth.

Where the River Ends

The Cran River flows into the southwest side of the Ashuapmushuan River. This meeting point is upstream from some rapids, including the "Little fall at the Bear" and the "Great fall at the Bear."

This spot is located:

• About 37.8 kilometres (23.5 mi) northwest of downtown Saint-Félicien.
• About 46.7 kilometres (29.0 mi) northwest of where the Ashuapmushuan River ends.

After joining the Ashuapmushuan River, the water travels about 59.8 kilometres (37.2 mi) down that river. Then, it crosses Lac Saint-Jean for about 41.1 kilometres (25.5 mi). From there, it follows the Saguenay River for about 172.3 kilometres (107.1 mi) east. Finally, it reaches Tadoussac and flows into the Saint Lawrence River.

River's Name

In French, the word "Cran" means "rock cap." People in the Lac Saint-Jean region often use this word.

The name "Rivière du Cran" was officially recognized on December 5, 1968. This was done by the Commission de toponymie du Québec, which is like a naming committee for places in Quebec.